Draft rigging



E; W. KDEL ET AL Mwah 31. M325.

DRAFT RIGGING Filed March 30, 1922 2 sheets-shew 1 ,3; amb 3i. i925.

B. W. KDEL ET AL I DRAFT RIGGING Filed March T50, 1922 2 sheets-shed 2 -lll patented 3i,

lnaiareo stares BYER-S VI. KADEI: AND PERCY R. DRENNIN BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, IMARYLAND.

IRFT RIGGING.

Application niet! Harsh 30, 1922.- Serla No. 548,199.

To 1U iff/lvm. 'it may cof/teem:

Be it known that we, Bruns W. KABEL and lnnor R. DneNNrNG, citizens of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented eerlain new and uselul Improvements in Draft Rigging; and we do hereby declare the following 'to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apper.

tains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to draft rigging for railway cars and, generally stated, consists in providing a vertical key connection between the coupler and a horizontal yoke.

The present invention has for an object to provide in combination, a vertical key connection adapted to permit relative movement between the yoke and coupler, means for supporting and guiding said key, said means also serving to support the forward end of the yoke, and means for limiting the 'forward movement of the coupler key and yoke beyond a predetermined position, said last named means being connected to the center sills of the draft rigging.

Another object of the invention consists in ilu, provision ot' upper and lower vertical key guide n'iexnbers connected to the center lsills, said members being provided with means arranged to guide and support the forivard end of the yoke.

'further object ot' the invention is to provide a dra'tt rigging so constructed and arranged as to transmit excessive loads to tbl` car underl'ranio without detriment to tbe latter. said draft rigging including a vertical key connection between tbe coupler and yoke, means l'or limiting tbe vl'oiwvard niorcnwnt of said key and vokc beyond a pl'wlcterinined position, said moans coniprising a con'ibined striking casting and carry iron connected lo the draft sills, and a backslop member ior limiting` the rearward movement of the yoke beyond a predetermined position.

Other objects will be obvious, as bereinafter set forth, reference being bad tothe accompanying drawings in wliich- Figure l is a sectional. plan View of the movement or the coupler key,

center sills and associated underfraine 'showing a dra structed in accordance with vention.

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal ver 55 tical sectional vien7 of the construction shown in Figure l, parts of the mechanismlieing illustrated in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the forward portion of the' 60 draft rigging embodying the invention.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line -#l'of Figure 2.

4igure 5 is a similar viewillustrating a slightly different 'form of upper guideaas' member. ""l

The center or draft sills are indicated at,

arts of a car t rlgging conthe present inl-l and the backstop casting at 2, said casting being connected to the sills by means of rivets 3. Each sill is provided with a 70 longitudinally extending slot 4 and to the outer face of each sill is connected a cheek plate 5. Each cheek plate is formed with a slot 6 and may be provided with a-hoss 7 adapted to surround the edges of the slot 75 5 and extend through the slots 4: .in the center sills. Rivets 8 firmly connect the cheek plates to the oppositely disposed center sills. i Located between the sills is the horizontal 80 yoke 9 provided at its forward end with the hooded head 10, the top and bottom Walls of which are provided with longitudinally extending key receiving slots 11. These slots l1 have their forward opposed side faces in- 85 clined and extending laterally into the-relalively wide portions providing parallel opposed `faces, as shown in Figure l, thereby providing lateral clearance for ille pivotal the key slot in W the coupler being adapted to closely euiy brace said key. 'l`be forward portions of 'the upper and lower arm's of the yoke are forwardly inclined and the slots l1 are preferably enlarged for increased bearing at these o5 points for the vertical coupler key 12. The enlarged portions extend laterally and toward the side Walls of the yoke head l0, the inclined portions 13 forming shoulders on the top and bottom Walls of the yoke adapt- 10o ed to cooperate with guide means on the upper and lower key reeining; mene bers to be hereinafer deserihedu Wihin the yoke arms and et forward end egeins the key eonneeieii foi# lower 14 :and the inner 'face of die reel? Weil of die yoke, is the cushioning mechanism ,i5 which is oniy diugrammeiieziiiy iiiustraei bythe dot sind dash iines in Figures Ii and 2. The 'follower 14; isprovided wiah a sioi 1G through which exiends a key i7, said key in normal posifion ofthe geur engaging die rear willi of the sio; i6 in iie oiiower :mi engaging et iis forward edges egeins eine foi-wird ends of the sies 6 in ine eheei; nietes 4 through which seid key' exi/eerie: The vertieai eoupier ,key i2 .is nrrenged to siidabiy eonneet 'the eoupier eo *die yoke 9, the said key in the normali position o the gear engaging the rear Waiii oi the sioi in the coupler, and engaging et its forward edges agarose the 'forward end of the ii in the yoke heed. The i-:ey i2 is of iengdoh which provides for its extending eiove and beiow the upper and iower faces of the yoke orme7 said key beimr of e ienrgii gjreier hzm the combined thickness of the yoke end eonpier, uThe projee'ing poriens oif the eonpier key are adopted te guided and supported in the manner to be 'new de scribed.

The means for guiding and reinining the vertieui key i2 comprises a ioiver member or 'nlzxre 18 having Hongos 19 eoni'ieeted oy ineens of hoits 2O to the iow'er iang'es 0 the draft sills; The member i8 is iorxned with Unwin-diy projecting portions 2l forminer snpioring; hearing surfaces *for the yoke, and a eenirniiy depressed portion 2li, ihe seid depressed portion forming n support und hearing face for the conpier key, :is oienriy shown in Figure 4. A sniieieni heightv is given to 4die npwurdiy projeeingj portions 2l so (har the yoke wili he mein tained in its norinzii'iy iiorizonrni pinne. The depressed Vportion of che phie i8 is sinpiieieniy low to provide i'or 1the iower end or' #he verticali eonnier key ei'eeiiveiy engaging n, lower 'front stop on rho (curry.

iron, whieh ieiinier i,n to he presently desrrihed. The inner opposed faces of he opwzirdiy projeriing norbions Qi :1re spec-ed sniiirienily from the shonidere formed hyl the inoiined maiis ifi on the yoke firms, :md :is shown, Seid inner oppormi ineen :1ro sdightiy ineiined, herehy providingh ampie elem-:mee for the swinging of ih'e yoke upon (he supporting :ind henrinf snrfi'eees QQ. iongiindineil bearing surfer-e is provided on ihe depressed portion of the lower ineinher i9. the Vertical key `i2 heine; niovzihio on iid hearing snrifziee whieh. :is xnown in rig-nre L. nnii'iterrnped ni', verh end. From ie ioi'egjoiiinl rfonsirneiion ii vfiii he obvious that il rehitiw'eiy iig-hi, hot rome V ai sponriin'iy Sirong .key reinining end yoke guiding member has neen provided the np- Wsrriiy projeeiging porions 21 sind 4he depressed portion 253 of faire member Constituiing sninseeniieiiy e eerrngeed eonsrueiion.,

The up'ier member or pinke 2&- is eonneeiieel io 'he upper iengfes of he ,center siiis hy means of rives Hhe ,iaiie 24; is siightiy arehed, and die nppernioe end of 'he reriiesi key 12 spaced iiierefrom, as shown. Erich end of the 'piele member 24C is nninierrnpted in a nimmer similar to t .e lower member 25.3, the lworwerd seppiementni sions for the verticali. key provided on the combined ssriiiing' eesiing; emi

iron 23 new se he described.

This combined member v25 ineindes 4Ehe sriifinff costing; 2? and the eery iron 28, iioh eff seid paris heine eonrieeied by depending; sections 29 firmly eonneeiged io the inner faces of the dre-ft siiis hy ineens rives 3Q Fienges 3i project ietereiiy 4:from

ehe srikingg ienges exienciingr ongrmrdiy over .fiile top fiene'es of he 'Cir-effi; eiiis. and being; eonneeieri ihere-o 4by means oi? 32. The eomoined 26 eensiiiines e heeiiie eesiingr, the sriiringgf and ry iron pori/ions bridging ifne inegrei wending; seeiio'ns both end hoioin, resnee'iveiy, the droit siiis.

snjppiemeniei front stop 33 is provided on. che striking; casein@ 92'?, and e' simiiar stop formed in the Carry iron support E28. '"ihese-respeeive soos ere preferably direeo portions of the said siriiring casting and carry iron support, beth of seid sions 'being vertiefiiiy eiinedand adapted izo he engaged hy die forward iop and bottom edges or' vthe veritie'ai coupler key, when. the cushioning' mechanism becomes soiid. An open sio: or depression formed in the rear edge oi he striking' casting terminates in the curved stop portion 38t 'the fiar-ing side of Jhe slot permitting" relative eiearanee for ihe key when entering and moving' Within said slot upon engagement with the. stop portion thereof. The rear edge of ihe striking eesiing is ioented in eiose 1proxianiinf i-o the iron?, edgeef thel top key retaining member. Q4, `the siot in ihe s'riking resting 'forming-rr I"nide ineens im 'che verieni key in'iinediz'reiy :ldjzujeni seid iop nieinher 'f2/i.

in i'he reni' edge of the ferry iron snppori. QR is 'formed fr' sin'iilur open eiocor depression Si) Seid depression haring :i forward curved stop portion with which hiiier 1in` iront edge of ihe lower end of the reriirzii key engages. The depression 32' formsv :i psn'ini `@mide ineens for the lower end oi the kei: the iower Snppori'ing meniher i8 for seid hm' lxiending weii forward und in snhsinniiniiy riore proximity io the depression in ihn reni' edge oi' the (furry iron. as shown in Figure therein' preventing the dropping or dislodgment of the key, as will be understood. The rear face of the ira-mber 26 contiguous to the respective dee--sions and 37, are inclined forwardly. s shown in Figure 2, forming seats for En reception of the respective inclined portions on the .front of` the yoke arms. These re-'w -tive' inclined portions engage when ine cnshionin; r mechanism becomes solid, form direct points of contact for transting excessive strains to the draft sills.

om the foregoingF construction it will be seen that there is provided a. unitary or f nepicce casting and carry iron member ing front stops formed therewith and ipted to prevent movement of the vertical vwroler key in a forward direction beyond a predetermined position. lt will be seen that v-.henthe cushioning' mechanism becomes solid. that is, at the limit of movement of the cushioning mechanism. the front. top and bottom edles of the coupler key engage the stop portions of the depressions in the rear edges of the combined striking and carry Viron member, and at the same' time the inclined portions of the yoke engage the the inclined seats adjacent. said depressions, thereby preventing further forward movementfof said key and yoke. andin turn transmitting the. excessive strains incident to the increased load transmitted to the draft sills. On draft it will be seen that the excessive loads are taken at a plurality of points, namely. the forward ends of the slots 6 through the horizontal key 17, the snpplemental vertical kev stops formed in. the depressions and 37, and the coactinfr inclined portions of the yoke head and the member 26. On butiing movement the, strains are also received at -a plurality of points, namely. the rear end of the slots G in the cheek plates, and the hinting"r face ol the backstop member 2. Y

ln Figure' 5 ll have shown a modified forni of construction in' which both upper and lower key and yoke I'uidiir;r nieinbers are of similar shape. The lower member fl. is attached to the lower flanges of the draft sills. as shown. and is provided with the. elevated yoke. supportingV portions 3., and the central depressed portion 40, by means il' which both the yoke and vertical key .iro supported and Iguided. as hereinbeforo desi-rilied. The npper member Ail is connected to the'top flanges of the renter sills by means of rivets and has formed tln'rcvitli depending sections Il having hearing surfaces l-l slightly spared from the tcp of the volo-heath as chairly shown in 5. ,\n npw'ardly projecting center 1M-r i3 is provided in the' top member `aid center pm'tionhavinej inclined op- -fl walls lo which serve to co-act with. omer edges of the 'inclined walls l?, ed on the enlarged portions of the yoke head, said inclined opposed Walls 46 serving to xguide the yoke head in amanner similar to that hereinbefore described in connection with the lower yoke support and key retaining member 18. The center portion of the member 40 is projected upwardly suf liciently far to extend slightly above the upper-vend of the vertical key, the aforesaid inclined opposed Walls 46 converging at their ,upper ends to act as a guide for said key.

ly this construction the front end or head of the horizontal `yoke is effectively snpported, guided and always'maintained in operative relation to the other 'associated parts of the drift rigging, the present construction also acting to guide and retain the vertical coupler key used in connection with said horizontal yoke.

lVe. claim l. ln a draft rigging, the combination with spaced draft sills, of a coupler and a yoke., means connecting saiod yoke and coupler comprisingY an upright key, means connected to the forward end of the draft. sills adapted to be engaged by the said key and yoke forl limiting the forward movements thereof beyond a predetermined position, and means adapted to prevent move- Ament. of said yoke in a rearward direction beyond a predetermined position.

2. ln a. draft rigging', the combination with spaced draft sills, of a coupler and a yoke,`an upright key connectimcY seid yoke and conpler, a member connected to said draft sills and adapted to close the forward end of the draft rigging; recess, said member acting to limit the forward movement ol' the said connecting key beyond a predetermned position. and means connected to said draft sills and adapted to prevent rearward movement of said yoke beyond a predeterniined position.

2:3. ln a draft rigging. the combination with draft sills, of cushioning mechanism, a coupler and horizontal yoke., a vertical coiipler key operably connecting! said oonpler and yoke. for permitting' relative movement therebetween. means located at theJ front of said draft sills and adapted to be engaged by said key for limiting: the forward movement 'thereof beyond a predetermined position,

when the cushioning mechanism becomes solid `for transmitting excessive loads to sai-l 'irait sills.

ln s draft rigging, the Combination with center sills, of cushioning mechanism, a. simpler and horizontal yoke, s vertical coupler key connectingf seid coupler' and yoke adapted to permit relative movement therebetween, and means including s plu-r rolity` of stop members connected to seid center sills tor preventing forward or rter-or ward n'iovement of said horizontal yoke beyond predetermined positions, said yoke having :uljseent its forward ends portions adapted to engage one ol the stop members.

(l. in e dni-tt rigging, the combination with d 'lit sills, of cushioning mechanism, coupler and e yoke, ineens connecting' sindA Coupler and yoke and adapted to permit relative movement therebetween, si, stop et the front end ol said draft sills adopted' to he engaged by said yoke for limiting the tor- Ward movement thereof, and means et the rear of said yoke connected to seid droit sills for limiting the rearward. movement of seid yoke.,A

7. ln o draft rigging, the combination 'with draft sills, of e coupler, a. horizontal yoke and cushioning mechanism, ineens ineludinp;` :i vertical key for connecting the yoke and eoupler, seid Ineens loeingl adapted to permit relative movement therebetween, means adapted to prevent rearward movement of the yoke beyond e. predetermined position, and a, member connected to the for.- ward end of the draft sills and against which sfiid vertical key engages when the. cusl'iioning mechanism becomes solid, seil 'momhers heilig' adapted to he engaged hy the yoke. v

8. ln n droit rigging, the ernnhination with drii'l't sills, of n eoupler, a horizontal yoke und cushioning mechanism, means in- Cludingo, 'voi-livel key Jfor Connecting,` the yoke und mulder, sziid meuns heini,r adapted to permit relative movement therebetween, means dented lo prevent rearward movenient'o'l the )yoke heyond a predetermined position, :1nd :i mouiller' connected to the lor- 4wird rnd of s'ziiil li-ull'. sills, said member havingr vertii'zilly :xlined rein edges forming front sions l'or the upper und lower ends of siiiil verliuzil key.

i). ln :i dru'l't Viering; lliuqnnhinalion willi (llnl'l sills` ol :i wuiplel', :i horizonlnl yoke :nul vusliioning nuelmnisni, Ineens ini-luiline :i veitirul lie/v for connecting the voke :ind coupler, smid means heine' adopted lo permit relative movement llurelietween, menus adapted to prevent; rem-ward movement oll the yoke liovond ii nredelerlninod posilion` :1nd n one-pieve Oosting connected 'to the 'forward end of said (li'uli' sills, said busting having :i rear lziee against which the front edge ot' the vertical coupler key enwith droit sills, or eo :wenste gages when the cushioning mechanism comes solid.

l0. in n rigginff i u .i n?, lernen *folie and eushioning ineehenisin, ineens i. eintling e vertical key for connecting the yoke end coupler, seid mee-.ns being te permit relative movement therebetween, ineens adopted to prevent rearward moyenxent of Ithe. yoke bevond u predetermined position, and zi combined striking costing and Carry iron Support connected to Said draft sills and adapted to forro a front stop for vertical coupler key npon. movement of seid key in forward direction lieyond n predetermined position. i il. ln :i draft rigging, the eomhinstion with draft sills, oi s coupler, ai horizontal yoke end ensliioningr mechanism, menne inoludino ai vertical key for connecting; the yoke end e npler seid .ineens heing edeptecl to permit relative movement therebetween, means ailing-ted to prevent earysrd movement of the yoke beyond refletermined position, end a combined Casting and curry iron support hoi/ing depressed portions in the resi 'Esce thereof, said depressed portions forming; guide recesses and. front stops or seid Vertical coupler key. r

12. ln a draft rigging, the combination 'with draittsills, ot a. coupler, e horizontal yoke, e Vertical key connecting said yoke end. coupler adapted to permit relative inoveinent therebetween, ineens connected to the draft sills Jfor supporting; and guiding seid vertical key, and e unitary member connected to the ttor-Word end of seid draft sills and adapted to forni eo-eoting guide and stop means `tor said lierticel coupler key upon forward movemelnt thereof beyond a. predetermined position. i3. ln n draft rigging, the.eoniloinzitiontAA with draft sills, of -a conpleigo horizontal'r yoke, o vertical. key connecting; said yoke` enileounler adapted to permit relative movementtherebetween, means connected to the draft sills for supporting and guiding said vertical key. and means connected to the forward ends of said center sills, said lest named means being arranged to form :i front stop for said. Vertical key upon movement thereof in a forward direction beyond o predetermined position. i

l-l. ln n drziflt rigging, the combination with draft sills, of :i coupler, n horizontal yoke, s vertu-:il key Connecting said yoke and coupler adapted to permit relative movement therebetween, means connected to and hridging said draft sills for retaining said vertical key in position, and Ineens adjacent sziid hist niimed means 'acting as a stop for the Verl'iiitl' coupler key, said lest named means heilig; connected to and bridging said ili'zil't. sills.

l. ln :i draft ri the combination seme',

Ell

reanese with ycenter sills, or a coupler, a horizontal yoke, means connecting said yoke and coupler, said means includilw a vertical key adapted to permit relative movement vbelween said yoke and coupler, means conner-,ted to said center sills for retaining and guiding the vertical kof# Said last named means also acting to support and guide libe smid horizontal yoke.

llS. ln a dra'i rigging, the Ycombination willi center sills of a coupler, a, horizontal yoke, a veriical key connecting` said coupler and yoke and adapted to permit, relative movement tberebelween, and means including :i member conneceed to the lower poriion` o said center sills for retaining and ,guiding said key, said means also acting to supportand guide said lmrizontal yoke.

17. In e draft rigging, the combination with cener eille, of a coupler, a horizontal yoke, a vertical key connecting said yoke and coupler adapted io permit relative movement therebetween, means includin spaced upper andv lower membere` connecte eo tbe draft sills, seid members being cooperatively associer/ed with the upper and ien/er ends or seid vehicel key for retain( ing and guiding be same, and means closingy the forward end of tbe draft rigging pocket, seid las, named means izo-acting with said `guide members and adaped eo form aironi; sop'for lie vertical coupler key.

18. ln a draft riggin', the combination with a, cushioning mecianism, of a key connected follower and horizontal yoke, a coupler, a vertically arranged coupler key connecting said coupler and yoke adapted to oerrnin relative movement therebetween, sn means provided above and below said key for guiding the same.

19. ln a draft rigging, bhe combination with a cushioning mechanism, of a key conneced follower and horizonoal oke, a conpier, a vertically arranged coop er key conneering said coupler and yoke adaped to permie relai/ive more2-'nent therebetween, means for reiaining said key in position, and ineens adapten io )rei/ent movement ci the key-in a forward direction beyond n predetermined position.

20. In a draft rigging, the combination with draf@ sills of a cushioning mechanism, a key conneced follower, a horizontal yoke, a coupler, means including e. vertical key connecting said yoke and coupler and adapted t/o permit relative movement therebetween, and means connected to the draft `sills for retaining said verlical key in position. said last named moans also serving` toguide said couplerkcy.

2l. In a draft rigging, lhicombination with draft sills, of n coupler, a horizontal yoke, a vertically arranged key connecting said coupler and yoke, and means carried by said draft sills for retaining and guiding said key, said means including upper and lower members connecled to the draft sills and also adapted to guide said horizontal yoke.

22. In a draft rigging, the combination with draft sills-1, of a coupler, a horizontal yoke, means connecting said yoke and coupler, :said mennel being adapted to permit relaive movement therebetween, and means for guiding said yoke and coupler connecting means, said last named means also acting to Support and guide the forward end of said horizontal yoke.

23. ln a draft rigging, the combination with draft sills, 4of a coupler, a .horizontal yoke provided at its forward end with shoulders, a vertical ke connecting said yoke and coupler adapte to permit relative movement therebetween, and means yconnected to the draft sills, said means acting to maintain elle vertical key in position and co-act with the aforesaid shoulders on said yoke for sup orting and guidingthe latter.

24. A drag; rigging member comprising a unitary striking casting and carry iron sup ort, said member having integral vcrtica sections connecting the upper and lower portions thereof and provided with a rear facelforming a front stop for a vertical coupler key.

25. A draft rigging member involving a one-piece striking casting' and carry iron support, said member being formed with a vertical rear wall forming a front stop for a vereical coupler key, and also being provided witli a contiguous wall alle ted to orm a forward Shop for the lrontlcnd oE the horizontal yoke'. l

2G. A draft rigging member involving a unitary striking'- cesting und cari' iron support,said member beingr formed with a rear wall with which the forward end of e, horizontal yoke engages when the cushioning mechanism of elle draft mechanism beicomes l ln tesmony whereof we akin our 'signatures.

BYERS W. KABEL.. PERCY R. DRNNNG. 

